[Boatanchors] : A real boatanchor.

[w8au at sssnet.com]

At 07:34 PM 08/13/2004, Dave Ellison wrote:

>Just for the education of some of us who don't know such things, what
>is a TDExx, TBL or TBK?  Just curious....

My my....  It would take pages and pages just to mention the more noteworthy
USN BA gear, let alone the entire WW2 Naval inventory....

And, there are many knowledgeable folks when it comes to these things..... but,
I'll briefly answer your question....

TBK -  big 6' x 3' x 2' black crackle box weighing about 800 lbs containing 
a four
tube line up:  860 master osc / 860 buffer-mult / 860 buffer/mult / 861 
final.  (The 861 is
an impressive tube- huge)
Power input 1kW or so.   Output 600 watts minimum...  2 - 18 mHz.  CW only 
but later mods for RTTY.
Powered by motor generator set weighing 1250 lbs.
This rig was called a "liaison xmtr," used more for long haul than battle 
group comms)
(it was a late 1930's design used on all major ships bigger than destroyers)

TBM -  A TBK with a companion cabinet containing a plate modulator for AM.
(These rigs were made mainly by Westinghouse but RCA also made two models)

TBL -  big black crackle box almost as large as TBK, (6' x 2.5' x 2.5')but 
containing two transmitters
side by side.   One is LF/MF and other HF.  Tube lineups are 860 MO, 860 
buffer/mult, 803 final  (MF).
HF side is 4 tubes:  860 MO, 860 buff/mult, 860 buff/mult, and 803 
final.   860 audio amp for grid mod (AM/MCW)
Output 200W both sides.  Freq: 175-600 kHz and 2-18 mHz.
Used in submarines and destroyers mostly as liaison xmtr.  Powered by 
motor-generator set.

TDE -  Smaller version of above.   5' x  28" x 20"  Black crackle, by 
Westinghouse.  MF and HF sections.
Motor-generator set in base.   300 kHz - 18 mHz.  Three tube lineups:  801 
mo/807 bfr/803 amp.  (MF)
837 mo/807 bfr-mult/803 amp.  (HF)  plus 801 for suppressor grid AM.  Power 
out 125W minimum
and about 200W max.
Used on smaller ships up to destroyers.

TCK -  later WW2 set by GE.  4' x 2' x 18"  Black crackle (GE paint jobs 
not as good as Westinghouse)
HF only -  2-18 mHz.   837 mo / 837 bfr-mult / pair of 813's final.  400W 
CW, 100W AM.  Motor-gen set
or AC supply.  807 grid modulator.   Had refined master osc with direct 
freq readout for each band
(mechanical, similar to R-390) and built in heterodyne freq meter.

Each of these rigs had a suffix number that increased with each newer model.

There were many more than just these five........

Anyone serious about the entire list of WW2 Navy BA stuff (TX, RX and more) 
should pick up a copy
of NAVSHIPS 900,116.    (1946)     Robt -  WA5CAB has reprints.

Perry    w8au